Psalm 21

Psalm 21 Prayer Audio in Latin

{21:1} In finem, pro susceptione matutina, Psalmus David. {21:1} Unto the end. For the tasks of early morning. A Psalm of David.

~ This psalm is about the time of early morning, metaphorically referring to the end of a dark time, and to the beginning of a time of light, when God saves at the end of suffering. It is also a fitting psalm for the start of the day.

{21:3} Deus meus clamabo per diem, et non exaudies: et nocte, et non ad insipientiam mihi. {21:3} My God, I will cry out by day, and you will not heed, and by night, and it will not be foolishness for me.

{21:14} Aperuerunt super me os suum, sicut leo rapiens et rugiens. {21:14}They have opened their mouths over me, just like a lion seizing and roaring.

{21:15} Sicut aqua effusus sum: et dispersa sunt omnia ossa mea. Factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei. {21:15} And so, I have been poured out like water, and all my bones have been scattered. My heart has become like wax, melting in the midst of my chest.

{21:21} Erue a framea Deus animam meam: et de manu canis unicam meam: {21:21} O God, rescue my soul from the spear, and my only one from the hand of the dog.

{21:22} Salva me ex ore leonis: et a cornibus unicornium humilitatem meam. {21:22} Save me from the mouth of the lion, and my humility from the horns of the single-horned beast.

~ The word ‘unicornium’ does not refer to the mythical horse with a single horn. It refers literally to some type of wild animal with one horn in ancient times. This animal is most likely some species that has since gone extinct. Some have speculated that it could refer to the rhinoceros of India (Rhinoceros unicornis), which has one horn, unlike its African cousin, which has two horns. It also has a figurative meaning. Notice that the first part of the verse refers to being saved by lions. It is not the case that the Israelites were largely afraid of being eaten by lions; rather, the lion is figurative for a king or for governmental authority. Save me from governmental authority gone astray. Likewise, save my humility from the horns of the single-horned beast. This beast could represent law enforcement and military bodies gone astray. Guns and tanks can be figuratively said to have a single horn, yet they shoot many horns (bullets, etc.) from their single horn. May I be humble in the face of law enforcement and military authorities gone astray.

~ The single-horned beast can also be said to be a figure of the Antichrist’s kingdom. The figure of a horn is often used in the Old Testament to signify a leader of a kingdom. The Antichrist’s kingdom has a single horn, in the sense that he is one leader who will have dominion over nearly the whole world. And it has many horns, in that there are many other leaders who exercise authority under the Antichrist.

{21:23} Narrabo nomen tuum fratribus meis: in medio ecclesiæ laudabo te. {21:23} I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the Church, I will praise you.

{21:25} Timeat eum omne semen Israel: quoniam non sprevit, neque despexit deprecationem pauperis: Nec avertit faciem suam a me: et cum clamarem ad eum exaudivit me. {21:25} May all the offspring of Israel fear him. For he has neither spurned nor despised the pleas of the poor. Neither has he turned his face away from me. And when I cried out to him, he heeded me.

{21:26} Apud te laus mea in ecclesia magna: vota mea reddam in conspectu timentium eum. {21:26} My praise is with you, within a great church. I will pay my vows in the sight of those who fear him.

{21:27} Edent pauperes, et saturabuntur: et laudabunt Dominum qui requirunt eum: vivent corda eorum in sæculum sæculi. {21:27} The poor will eat and be satisfied, and those who yearn for the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will live forever and ever.

{21:28} Reminiscentur et convertentur ad Dominum universi fines terræ: Et adorabunt in conspectu eius universæ familiæ Gentium. {21:28} All the ends of the earth will remember, and they will be converted to the Lord. And all the families of the Gentiles will adore in his sight.

{21:29} Quoniam Domini est regnum: et ipse dominabitur Gentium. {21:29} For the kingdom belongs to the Lord, and he will have dominion over the Gentiles.

{21:30} Manducaverunt et adoraverunt omnes pingues terræ: in conspectu eius cadent omnes qui descendunt in terram. {21:30} All the fat of the earth have gnashed their teeth, and they have adored. In his sight, they will fall down, all those who descend to the ground.

{21:32} Annunciabitur Domino generatio ventura: et annunciabunt cæli iustitiam eius populo qui nascetur, quem fecit Dominus. {21:32} There will be announced for the Lord a future generation, and the heavens will announce his justice to a people who will be born, whom the Lord has made.

~ The phrase ‘quem fecit Dominus’ refers to the people whom the Lord has made (a future generation, not yet born), not to the justice. The word ‘justitiam’ is feminine, but the word ‘populo’ and the word ‘quem’ are each masculine.

This page is a part of Latin-English book of Psalms, Catholic Public Domain Version, a new translation of the Latin Vulgate, using the Douay-Rheims as a guide by SacredBible.org. Psalms Audio courtesy of The Boston Catholic Journal. All copyrights belong to their respective owners. No additions, deletions, or changes are to be made to the text or audio files in any way, and the copies may not be sold for a profit.